News

New Area Code in Western Kentucky

Telephone customers in Western Kentucky will soon be preparing for area code changes. Area code 364 will be added to the same geographic area of current area code 270.

Here are ten things you need to know about Western Kentucky’s new area code:

All current area code 270 numbers remain unchanged. Everyone with a 270 area code number can keep it. Nobody is required to change their area code or phone number.

The overlay affects both landline and wireless services.

Area code 364 will be overlaid on top of area code 270. That means that area codes 270 and 364 will occupy the same physical space beginning March 2014.

In order to distinguish between phone numbers with area code 270 and those with area code 364, 10-digit dialing will be required for all local calls within the overlay.

Ten-digit dialing also will be required for local calls into or out of the overlay in those areas that now allow seven-digit local calling across the area code 270 boundary.

Ten-digit dialing means dialing the area code before dialing the number itself – for example: 270-555-1212 or 364-555-1212.

Long-distance calls within the overlay will require 11-digit (1-plus) dialing, just as long distance calls to other area codes do now.

A transition period, known as permissive dialing, will begin on August 3, 2013 and end on January 31, 2014. During that time, local calls can be made using either seven- digit or 10-digit dialing.

On February 1, 2014, 10-digit dialing for local calls will become mandatory in the area code 270/364 territory.

Numbers with area code 364 may be distributed beginning March 3, 2014. Telecommunication service providers may continue to distribute 270 numbers for as long as they have any remaining in their inventories.

For more information, click here to read a news release from the Kentucky Public Service Commission.